Sample Notary Exam 1

Question 2

Register for a Notary Class

2)  The first offense for translating the term Notary Public into Notario Público or Notario can result in what penalties?
          a) Permanent revocation of the notary commission and a $1,500 fine.
          b) Suspension of the notary commission for 1 year and a $1,500 fine.
          c) Suspension of the notary commission for 1 year and a $750 fine.
          d) Suspension of the notary commission for 1 year and a $2,500 fine.

Correct answer: b

          The listing of violations which carry a $1,500 fine are as follows:

1. The use of false or misleading advertising wherein the notary public has represented that he or she has duties, rights, or privileges that he or she does not possess.
2. Commission of any act involving dishonesty, fraud, or deceit with the intent to substantially benefit the notary public or another, or substantially injure another.
3. Execution of any certificate as a notary public containing a statement known to the notary public to be false.
4. Violating the prohibition against a notary public who holds himself or herself out as an immigration specialist or consultant advertising that he or she is a notary or violating the restrictions on charging to assist in the completion of immigration forms.
5. Violating the restrictions on advertising notarial services in a foreign language or literally translating the phrase “notary public” into Spanish.

          It is important to remember that a notary may not translate the term Notary Public directly into Spanish. A notary may also not advertise as both a notary and an immigration consultant and if a notary advertises his or her services in any non-English language, the notary must post the following in both English and the non-English language: “I am not an attorney and, therefore, cannot give legal advice about immigration matters or any other legal matters”. The notary must also post their fees which cannot exceed the legal fees for their services.
Violations of these restrictions carry a required suspension of the notary commission for not less than 1 year on the first offense and permanent revocation on the second offense. Each of these also carry a fine of up to $1,500.